Horseshoe assembly

ABSTRACT

An improvement in horseshoe assemblies which permit the addition of weight to or the removal of weight from the hoof of a horse without reshoeing the horse. The improvement is characterized by a first shoe having a periphery corresponding generally to the shape of the hoof to be shod. The top surface of the first shoe is adapted to be fixed in abutment with the bottom of the hoof in a conventional manner. A second shoe member is also provided. The second shoe has a normally upwardly oriented surface which conforms to the periphery of the bottom of the first shoe and is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first shoe. Means for temporarily affixing the second shoe to the first shoe to secure the two in abutment are provided and preferably take the form of a beveled tongue portion which extends from the second shoe for mating with a beveled portion provided on the first shoe. The second shoe is also provided with recessed portions which receive screws or the like passing through the first shoe member. The screws cooperate with the beveled tongue to retain the first shoe and second shoe in abutting relationship. The second shoe may be provided with a cavity which may be filled with a variety of weight means. The weight means may be positioned within the cavity to provide a toe-weighted, heel-weighted or side-weighted shoe depending upon the particular application in which the shoe is to be used.

United States Patent [191 Smith [111 3,747,683 [451 July 24, 1973 1 nonsssnos ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Gerald E. M. Smith, 1301 Pecan St.,

' Marshall, Tex. 75670 [22'] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 240,419

854,198 5/l907 Crandell 168/11 Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Assistant Examiner- -J. Q. Lever Attorney-D. Carl Richards et al.

57 r ABSTRACT An improvement in horseshoe assemblies which permit the addition of weight to or the removal of weight from the hoof of a horse without reshoeing the horse. The

improvement is characterized by a first shoe having a periphery corresponding generally to the shape of the hoof to be shod. The top surface of the first shoe is adapted to be fixed in abutment with the bottom of the hoof in a conventional manner. A second shoe member is also provided. The second shoe has a normally upwardly oriented surface which conforms to the periphery of the bottom of the first shoe and is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first shoe. Means for temporarily affixing the second shoe to the first shoe to secure the two in abutment are provided and preferably take the form of a beveled tongue portion which extends from the second shoe for mating with a beveled portion provided on the first shoe. The second shoe is also provided with recessed portions which receive screws or the like passing through the first shoe member. The screws cooperate with the beveled tongue to retain the first shoe and second shoe in abutting relationship. The second shoe may be provided with'a cavity which may be filled with a variety of weight means. The weight means may be positioned within the cavity to provide a toe-weighted, heelweighted or side-weighted shoe depending upon the particular application in which the shoe is to be used.

9 Claims, 5 DrawingiFigures HORSESHOE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to horseshoes and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to horseshoes to which weight may be added or from which weight may be removed without the necessity of reshoeing the horse.

2. Description of Prior Art It is sometimes desirable in the training and showing of horses to employ horseshoes which alter the normal movement of the horses hooves. For example, in some applications it is desirable to apply a shoe to the horses hoof which is heavier at the toe than at the heel. In other applications it is desirable to weight the outside of the horseshoe. Conversely, of course, it is sometimes desirable to weight the rear of the horseshoe or the inside depending upon the effect which is desired. In

' some applications it is also desirable to elevate the front feet of the horse in order to encourage the exaggerated lifting of the hooves of the animal such as in the training and showing of Tennessee walking horses. Various approaches have been made at providing a horseshoe which would permit addition of weight to the horseshoe or removal or weight from the shoe without requiring the removal of the shoe from the horse. For example, in order to add weight to a shoe, it has been suggested that cavities be provided in the shoe which can be filled with weights, if desired, such as illustrated in U. S. Pat. No. 2,529,419 issued to Quartullo. In other instances, weight has been added to the shoe by welding additional metal onto theshoe at the desired location in order to achieve the weight distribution desired. Weight can be removed by grinding away a portion of the shoe.

In order to change the height of the shoe it has been necessary in the past to remove the old shoe and insert spacing members, such as leather pads, between the hoof and the shoe in order to build up the heightof the hoof from the ground. However, each removal of the shoe to alter the height of the hoof above the ground requires the removal of nails from the hoof and the renailing of the shoe to the hoof after the insertion of leather pads or the removal of such pads depending upon whether the hoof is to be elevated or lowered. When the shoe is to be built up or lowered by the use of pads or wedges inserted between the shoe and the hoof it is common to have such work done by experienced farriers as it is easy to damage the horses hoof by incorrect application of the shoe. Such damage can render the horse lame or result in premature loss of the SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention may be briefly described as an improvement in a horseshoe'assembly which permits the addition of weight to or the removal of weight from the hoof of a horse without reshoeing the horse. The improvement comprises a first shoe having top and bottom surfaces and a periphery which corresponds to the shape of the hoof to be shod. The top surface of the first shoe is adapted to be positioned adjacent to ane affixed in abutting relationship with the bottom of the hoof of the horse. A second shoe member is provided which has a normally upwardly oriented surface the periphery of which conforms to the periphery of the bottom surface of the first shoe and is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first shoe. Means are also provided for temporarily affixing the second shoe to the first shoe to secure the top surface of the second shoe in abutment with the bottom surface oF the first shoe. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the second shoe has a cavity within which may be placed a weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1- as it would appear in assembled condition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the bottom shoe used in the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the shoe illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of yet another bottom shoe which may be used with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a first shoe generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 which has a top surface 11, a bottom surface 12 and a periphery 13 which generally conforms to the shape of the hoof of the horse to which the shoe is to be applied. The shoe 10 has a plurality of holes 9 therethrough for receipt of nails and near the normally forwardly oriented end thereof includes a beveled surface 14 which slopes inwardly from the top surface 11 of shoe 10 to the bottom surface 12 thereof. Shoe 10 at its rearward portion 15 also has threaded openings 16 therethrough. Openings 16 are adapted to receive screws 17.

Shoe 10 is adapted to mate with a second shoe 18 having a normally upwardly oriented surface 19 the periphery 20 of which conforms to the periphery 21 of the bottom 12 of shoe 10. Shoe 18 also includes an upstanding portion 22 having a beveled tongue 23 which, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 2, is adapted to mate with the beveled surface 14 of shoe l0. Upstanding portion 22 of shoe 18 has a vertical wall 24 which, when shoe l0 and shoe 18 are placed in abutting relationship as illustrated in FIG. 2, is adapted to proximately abut the interior surface 25 of shoe 10 formed by opening in shoe 10. Shoe 18 is provided with a cavity 27 and a threaded opening 28 which receives a threaded plug 29 having internal lugs 30 for tightening and loosening of the plug 29 within opening 28. Plug 29 preferably has radially outwardly extending lip 32 which permits the use of a rubber gasket 33 to seal-the cavity 27 by compression of gasket 33 between radially outwardly extending lip 32 and shoulder 34 of upstanding portion 22. The upstanding portion 22 of shoe 18 includes two recesses 36 which, when shoes and 18 are placed in abutting relationship, register with apertures 16 and receive the screws 17 when they are fully engaged in apertures 16. Thus, screws 17 will pass through shoe 10 into recesses 36 to cooperate with the beveled tongue 23 in retaining the shoes 10 and 18 in abutting relationship such as shown in FIG. 2. Shoe 18 along its bottom portion includes wings 38 normally found on horseshoes. The cavity 27 of shoe 18 may include weight means such as a plurality of lead pellets 39 which will move about within cavity 27 upon movement of shoe 18.

The cavity 27 of shoe 18 may, as illustrated in FIG. 4, include weight means 42, such as solid lead which is relatively fixed within cavity 27 and which will not move about within cavity 27 upon movement of shoe 18. The lead 42 may be inserted within cavity 27 by first melting the lead and introducing it through opening 28 and permitting it to solidify in a desired position within the cavity 27. As illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, the shoe 18 was tilted to permit the lead 42 to solidify near the toe 43 in order to provide a toe-weighted shoe. The shoe could have been tilted to cause the lead 42 to solidify along either side of the shoe 18 or along the rear portion thereof in order to provide a side weighted shoe or a heel-weighted shoe, respectively.

While the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 is provided with a cavity, other types of shoes may be affixed to shoe 10. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a solid shoe 44 may be used which has a bottom plate 45 from which extends an upstanding portion 46. Upstanding portion 46 is provided with a beveled tongue 47 adapted to mate with the beveled surface 14 on shoe 10. The shoe 44 is also provided with recesses in the rearward portion 49 thereof which receive the screws 17 in the same manner that shoe 18 receives screws 17. In the training of a horse it may be desirable to first apply only shoe 10. After a period, a relatively light and thin shoe, such as shoe 44, may be applied to shoe 10 by inserting the beveled tongue 47 over and in engagement with the beveled surface 14. Then the rear portion of shoe 44 is elevated into abutment with the bottom surface of the shoe 10 in order to align the recesses in the rear portion 49 thereof with apertures 16 in the rear portion of shoe l0. Screws 17 may then be fully inserted to retain shoes 10 and 44 in proximate abutting relationship. After a further period of training yet other shoes of varying height such as shoe 44 may be applied to gradually build the elevation of the hoof of the horse above the ground. In, some applications, a bottom shoe such as shoe 18 may be employed. In all of these instances a change in weight or height of the shoe may easily be effected by removal of screws 17 and reinsertion of a new bottom shoe without the necessity of applying a shoe to the hoof of the horse by nails. Thus, the attention of an expert farrier is not required. Further, if, for example, the shoe in FIG. 4 is used, the weight distribution within the shoe may be easily changed by heating shoe 18 to remelt lead 42 and redistribute the lead about cavity 27. If additional weight is desired additional molten lead may be admitted to cavity 27. Conversely, if weight is to be removed, molten lead may be removed from cavity 27. While lead is the preferred substance for weighting of the shoe 18, any substance may be used which has a melting point lower than that of the material of which shoe 18 is fabricated and higher than the ambient conditions in order that it may solidify within cavity 27 at a desired location. In those instances where a weight is to be used which need not be relatively permanently attached at a particular position within cavity 27 it is possible to employ solid discrete particles such as the lead pellets 39 or a liquid such as mercury which has a high specific gravity. In addition to providing weight to shoe 18, a movable weight will, upon movement of the shoe 18 by the horse, create a strange sensation causing the horse to exaggerate movement of his foot which for some purposes may be desired.

Further, if one foot is to be weighted more than another foot or in the case where it is desired to train a horse to canter with a left lead or canter with a right lead, one of the bottom shoes may be fabricated of iron and the other of aluminum to create the weight imbalance without changing the height of the shoe.

While rather specific terms have been used to describe one embodiment of the present invention, they are not intended nor should they be construed as a limitation upon the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a horseshoe assembly which permits the addition of weight to or the removal of weight from the hoof of a horse without reshoeing of the horse, the improvement which comprises:

a first shoe having top and bottom surfaces, a periphery which corresponds to the shape of the hoof to be shod, an opening therethrough, a beveled surface proximate the portion thereof adapted to be positioned toward the forward part of the hoof which beveled portion slopes inwardly from the top surface of the first shoe toward the bottom surface of the shoe and a threaded aperture through the normally rearwardly oriented end of the first shoe, the top surface of the first shoe being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and fixed in abutting relationship with the bottom of the hoof of the horse;

a second shoe member having a normally upwardly oriented surface the periphery of which conforms to the periphery of the bottom surface of the first shoe and is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first shoe, the second shoe including a beveled tongue extending from the forwardly oriented end thereof to mate with the beveled portion of the first shoe and an upstanding portion having a recess which will register with the aperture in the first shoe when the bottom surface of the top shoe and upwardly oriented surface of the second shoe are in abutment;

a screw which is adapted to pass through the apertur in the first shoe and extend into the recess in the second shoe; and

a substantially vertical wall portion extending from the upwardly oriented surface of the second shoe which will be nested within the opening in the first shoe when the first and second shoes are arranged in an abutting relationship.

2. The improved assembly of claim 1 wherein said second shoe contains a cavity and has an opening through said second shoe into said cavity, and said second shoe includes: I

a plug adapted to be temporarily affixed in the open- 3. The improved assembly of claim 2, including:

weight means positioned within the cavity of the second shoe.

4. The improved assembly of claim 3, wherein said weight means comprises:

a plurality of discrete particles which will move about within the cavity upon movement of the second shoe.

5. The improved assembly of claim 3, wherein said weight means comprises:

a material which has a melting point which is lower than that of the second shoe and higher than ambient temperature to permit the weight means to be placed in the cavity in a molten condition and solidified within the cavity upon being positioned within the cavity at a desired location.

. 6. In a horseshoe assembly which permits the addi-' tion of weight to or the removal of weight from the hoof of a horse without reshoeing of the horse, the improvement which comprises:

a first shoe having top and bottom surfaces and a pcriphery which corresponds to the shape of the hoof to be shod, the top surface of the first shoe being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and fixed in abutting relationship With the bottom of the hoof of the horse;

a second shoe member having a normally upwardly oriented surface the periphery of which conforms to the periphery of the bottom surface of the first shoe and is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first shoe, the second shoe also having a cavity and an opening into said cavity;

plug means adapted to be temporarily affixed in the opening in the second shoe; and

means for temporarily affixing the second shoe to the first shoe to secure the top surface of the second shoe in abutment with the bottom surface of the first shoe.

7. The improvement assembly of claim 6, including: weight means positioned within the cavity of the second shoe.

8. The improved assembly of claim 7, wherein said weight means comprises: g

a plurality of discrete particles which will move about within the cavity upon movement of the second shoe.

9. The improved assembly of claim 8, wherein said weight means comprises: i

a material having a melting point which is lower than that of the second shoe and higher than ambient temperature to permit the weight means to be placed in the cavity in a molten condition and solidified within the cavity upon being positioned within the cavity at a desired location.

a material having a melting point which is lower than that of the second shoe and higher than ambient temperature to permit the weight means to be placed in the cavity in a molten condition and solidified within the cavity upon being positioned within the cavity at a desired. location.

' i i t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO, r 3,747,683 Dated July 24, 1973 Inventor(s) Gerald M. Smith It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 26, change "or" (second occurrence) to -of-.

Col. 2, line 6, change ane" to and-.

Col. 2, line 16, change "0F" to of--.

Col. 2, line 59, after "opening" insert 26-.

Col. 5, line 24, change "With" to --with Col. 6, lines 25-30, delete each line in its entirety.

Signed and sealed this 20th day November 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patent FORM F O-1050 (IO-69) uscoMM-Dc 60376-P69 Q U.S. GDVERNMENT PRINTINGOI'FICE: I369 0-366-334. 

1. In a horseshoe assembly which permits the addition of weight to or the removal of weight from the hoof of a horse without reshoeing of the horse, the improvement which comprises: a first shoe having top and bottom surfaces, a periphery which corresponds to the shape of the hoof to be shod, an opening therethrough, a beveled surface proximate the portion thereof adapted to be positioned toward the forward part of the hoof which beveled portion slopes inwardly from the top surface of the first shoe toward the bottom surface of the shoe and a threaded aperture through the normally rearwardly oriented end of the first shoe, the top surface of the first shoe being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and fixed in abutting relationship with the bottom of the hoof of the horse; a second shoe member having a normally upwardly oriented surface the periphery of which conforms to the periphery of the bottom surface of the first shoe and is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first shoe, the second shoe including a beveled tongue extending from the forwardly oriented end thereof to mate with the beveled portion of the first shoe and an upstanding portion having a recess which will register with the aperture in the first shoe when the bottom surface of the top shoe and upwardly oriented surface of the second shoe are in abutment; a screw which is adapted to pass through the aperture in the first shoe and extend into the recess in the second shoe; and a substantially vertical wall portion extending from the upwardly oriented surface of the second shoe which will be nested within the opening in the first shoe when the first and second shoes are arranged in an abutting relationship.
 2. The improved assembly of claim 1 wherein said second shoe contains a cavity and has an opening through said second shoe into said cavity, and said second shoe includes: a plug adapted to be temporarily affixed in the opening.
 3. The improved assembly of claim 2, including: weight means positioned within the cavity of the second shoe.
 4. The improved assembly of claim 3, wherein said weight means comprises: a plurality of discrete particles which will move about within the cavity upon movement of the second shoe.
 5. The improved assembly of claim 3, wherein said weight means comprises: a material which has a melting point which is lower than that of the second shoe and higher than ambient temperature to permit the weight means to be placed in the cavity in a molten condition and solidified within the cavity upon being positioned within the cavity at a desired location.
 6. In a horseshoe assembly which permits the addition of weight to or the removal of weight from the hoof of a horse without reshoeing of the horse, the improvement which comprises: a first shoe having top and bottom surfaces and a periphery which corresponds to the shape of the hoof to be shod, the top surface of the first shoe being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and fixed in abutting relationship With the bottom of the hoof of the horse; a second shoe member having a normally upwardly oriented surface the periphery of which conforms to the periphery of the bottom surface of the first shoe and is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first shoe, the second shoe also having a cavity and an opening into said cavity; plug means adapted to be temporarily affixed in the opening in the second shoe; and means for temporarily affixing the second shoe to the first shoe to secure the top surface of the second shoe in abutment with the bottom surface of the first shoe.
 7. The improvement assembly of claim 6, including: weight means positioned within the cavity of the second shoe.
 8. The improved assembly of claim 7, wherein said weight means comprises: a plurality of discrete particles which will move about within the cavity upon movement of the second shoe.
 9. The improved assembly of claim 8, wherein said weight means comprises: a material having a melting point which is lower than that of the second shoe and higher than ambient temperature to permit the weight means to be placed in the cavity in a molten condition and solidified within the cavity upon being positioned within the cavity at a desired location. a material having a melting point which is lower than that of the second shoe and higher than ambient temperature to permit the weight means to be placed in the cavity in a molten condition and solidified within the cavity upon being positioned within the cavity at a desired location. 